Drone Shoots Highlight Jacksonville Credit Union (VIDEO)

Chris Fanning prepares his helicopter drone for another video shoot at 121 Financial in Jacksonville.

Look up in the Jacksonville, Fla., sky and you may spot a helicopter drone over 121 Financial Credit Union’s branches.

Cindy Breslin, vice president of marketing for the over $442 million credit union, hired 4th Dimension Studios, a video production company, to use its helicopter drone to fly over and around each of the credit union’s branches for online videos and television commercials.

Originally designed as a way to help potential members identify the location of individual branches in121 Financial commercials, the footage begins with a slow approach to the front door and then inside to the lobby where local members share their 121 Financial experience on air.

“This way, a prospective member not only gets information on a branch near them, they can actually see what the branch looks like,” said Breslin of why the footage has been incorporated on its website as part of the location and contact information page.

The aerial footage has also been used by the credit union’s security team and as a part of new employee training, giving new hires an insider look at every branch. Breslin said she continues to find different uses for the drone, most recently to cover a car sale held at the credit union’s headquarters.

Chris Fanning, a partner with his father in 4th Dimension Studios, said he is the only owner of a video production company who has a helicopter drone in Northeast Florida. He actually has two - a smaller drone and a larger one about the size of a coffee table.

In addition to being a video producer, Fanning is a licensed pilot, which allows him to fly the drone at various altitudes.